10:55 AM,
Nov. 7, 2012

A New York Senate special session in Albany.

Written by

Joseph Spector and Jon Campbell
Albany Bureau

Senate Democrats said Wednesday they have the 32 votes needed to reclaim the majority, saying they picked up the three seats needed to regain power.

Sen. Michael Gianaris, D-Queens, told Gannett's Albany Bureau that Democrats did what they needed to do: They held two contested seats and won three additional seats, giving them 32 votes. Thirty-two votes are needed to win the majority in the 63-seat chamber.

Republicans held a 33- to 29-seat majority heading into Tuesday's election. Republicans regained the majority in 2010, after Democrats won the majority in 2008. ...